Warne has lash over 'garbage'

Justin Chadwick, Perth

Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has blasted Australia's selection policies, labelling them as garbage, ridiculous and mind-boggling.

Warne was left fuming after being told fit-again paceman James Pattinson was off-limits for the Melbourne Stars' Twenty20 semi-final showdown against the Perth Scorchers on Wednesday night.

Pattinson was replaced on the Stars' playing list when it was thought a rib injury would keep him on the sidelines for the Big Bash League. He made a successful return from a side strain last Saturday in the Victorian Premier League, but Cricket Australia said the Stars could not recall him to their list.

A fired-up Warne, who was already unimpressed by CA's controversial rotation policy, said there was no logic in keeping Pattinson out of Twenty20 ranks for such a big match.

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''Everyone told us we couldn't have him,'' Warne said in Perth on Tuesday. ''We were just trying to find some logical answer or some common sense in between the absolute garbage we were given.

''Anyone with half a brain or common sense will know that playing a semi-final against good opposition where you get four overs is actually better for you than playing eight overs of grade cricket and standing out there for seven hours.

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''I mean, hello? Am I the only one who thinks that? Or has common sense gone out the window?